November 1, 2025 – Miles Teller / Brandi Carlile (S51 E4)

SNL just now doing an NYC-centric cold open? I still remember some fans thinking this would be too niche for the rest of the country, but I guess not. Nice seeing the solid Miles Teller in the cold open, for the second hosting stint in a row. I’m liking that voice he is using as Cuomo. Ramy Youssef as Zohran Mamdani? I like that guy (and Zohran, too, not to get too political for these reviews), but why not a cast member? Ramy is also an Arab (like yours truly) and as far as I know, we aren’t that close looks-wise to how Indian people look like. I’m also sure we don’t need more cameos.

December 10, 2022 – Steve Martin & Martin Short / Brandi Carlile (S48 E8)

Cold Opening - Blocking It Out for Christmas for Christmas, singing (BOY), (CES), (KET), (SRS), (EGN) block anxieties It feels right getting a non-political cold open with Steve & Martin hosting the show. The Mariah Carey joke feels a bit tired, but Bowen’s delivery of it was decent as expected. I’m not really liking, so …